Means for conveying materials



Feb. 5, 1929.

K. DAVIS MEANS FOR CQNVEY'ING MATERIALS Filed July 6, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 AT NEYS.

Feb. 5, 1929.

K. DAVIS MEANS FOR CONVEYING MATERIALS Filed July 6, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENT OR ATT NEY K. DAVIS MEANS FOR CONVEYING MATERIALS Feb. 5, 1929.

Filed July 6, 1925 8 sheets-Sheet" 3 IN V EN TOR.

I TORNEYS.

Feb. 5, 1929. 1,701,174

K. DAVIS MEANS FOR CONVEYING MATERIALS Filed July 6, 1925 8 Sheets-Shea 4 '7 IN V {IA TOR. Li? W BY ATM z f fl K A MOM 13v? Feb. 5, 1929.

K. DAVIS MEANS FOR CONVEYING MATERIALS Filed July 6, 1925 8 Sheets-Shea- 5 IN V EN TOR.

A TTZ NEYS.

Feb. 5, 1929. 1,701,174

K. DAVIS MEANS FOR CONVEYING MATERIALS Filed July 6, 1925 8 Sheets-Shet' 6 U INVENTOR.

Feb. 5, 1929. 1,701,174 v K. DAVIS MEANS FOR CONVEYING MATERIALS Filed July e, 1925 8 sneet-sh't 7 Feb. 5, 1929.

K. DAVIS MEANS FOR CONVEYING MATERIALS Filed July 6, 1925 8 Sheets-She't 8 6'1 MENTOR ATTNEY Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

1,101,114 PATENT OFFICE.

KENNETH DAVIS, 01 EBENSBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB, BY HESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, 'I'O BEKBBANDT PEALE, W. SANDERS DAVIES, AND WILLIAM S. WALLACE,

TRUSTEES.

MEANS FOR CONVEYING MATERIALS.

Application filed July 6, 1925. Serial No. 41,889.

The invention relates to automatic material conveying mechanism, and in certain of its features more especially to an automatic material conveying line or apparatus especially adapted to convey coal in very thin coal seams without the use of tracks, or the usual cars.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation showing mechanism embodying the invention, and a manner of dumping the coal into an entry car;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the inner end of the conveying mechanism or device;

Fig. 3 is a top lan corresponding to Fig. 1 in the plane of t e ramp;

Fig. 4 shows the manner of loading the boat;

Fig. 5 is a central, longitudinal, verticalsection through the material conveyin boat;

Fig. 6 is a full top plan correspon ing to Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section and elevation view, taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a perspective detail of the sliding carrier for the pusher blade;

Fig. 9 is a perspective detail of the carrier whereby the pusher blade is mounted on its carriage;

Fig. 10 is a perspective detail of the anchor block, or attaching means for the head cable and tail cable to the pusher blade carrier;

Fig. 11 is a top plan, with parts in horizon-- tal section of the mechanism for winding and unwinding the cables;

Fig. 12 is a view in elevation and vertical section taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11;

13 is a central, longitudinal, vertical section of a modified form of the material carrying boat;

Fig. 14 is a vertical, transverse section on line lei-14 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary detail of the detentmechanism for the pusher blade;

Flg. 16 is a diagram of the general layout of the mechanism of the next preceding figures and the actuating means;

17 is an elevation of a modification;

Fig. 18 is a vertical, transverse section on line 1818 of Fig. 1; looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic plan of a conveyor dline with an automatic control therefor; an

Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic plan of the conyeyor mechanism applied to a long wall mining operation.

The invention is directed, in its present principal commercial application to conveying coal from a room face, or other working face, in a coal vein of very small thickness to the entry, or other place of discharge, and dumping or otherwise delivering it there by an automatically loading, conveying and unloading mechanism, dispensing with hand shoveling of the material, and the building and use of tracks in the room, or other working face.

It will be obvious, further, that the invention is likewise applicable to conveying material over relatively long distances, in other con nections and in other kinds of work than that described, although the invention is peculiarly adapted for the easy, simple and economical handling and transportation of coal in thin coal seams.

Economic conditions compel the workin of very thin coal seams, and due to the bar ship of working in the restricted space, it is very difficult to secure men for such work, and the efiiciency of workers in such restricted space is naturally greatly impaired and diminished. One of the difficult problems in operating very thin coal seams is the conveyance of the mined coal from the room face to the entry within reasonable and practical cost limits. The present invention eifects this without requiring human labor, without blasting the top or bottom of the room, and without building tracks, or using human labor in loading or propelling cars.

- The present invention comprises a cable line and a boat drawn thereby to and fro between the room face or other locations of the dislodged coal and the entry, the boat being self loading while traveling in the usual and necessary route of the cable line, and without additional cables or other appurtenances and without any special handling, maneouvering or extra or special movements of the boat at the supply end of the line, the boat being also self-dumping at the entry end of the line or other place of delivery.

Referringnow to the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example, the present preferred embodiment of the invention, aself-loading and self-dumping boat is provided, of heavy sheet metal or other suitable material, and comprising a flat and preferably rectangular bottom 1, and two upwardly-projecting, longitudinallydisposed'sides 2and 3, preferably integral therewith, the front and rear ends of the boat being open and unobstructed. The front edge of the bottom 1 may be turned up very slightly, as shown at 4 in Fig. 5, to aid the boat in riding over unevennesses in the mine floor. The rear edges of the side walls 2 and 3 of the boat are preferably sloped down- \vardly and inwardly, as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, to facilitate the loading and operation of the boat, as will be later more fully described.

Suitable frame work may be provided so far as may be necessary to strengthen'the boat structure, and also to provide supports for the guiding and operating means for the material controlling and discharging plate, which operates to load and unload the boat. As embodied, a plurality of frame members 10, 11 and 12 are shown, formed into broad and flat, inverted U-shape, their downwardly-extending ends being riveted to the sides 2 and 3 of the boat, the frames projecting upwardly therefrom and constituting reenforcing and supporting members spaced above the boat, with the central reach parallel to the bottom of the boat.

A material controlling and discharging plate 16 is mounted within the boat, to swing to and fro in loading the boat, and retaining the load in the boat, and to slide longitudinally of the boat to discharge the load of con veyed material therefrom. It is pivoted to a carriage, to ride or swing freely backwardly' above material drawn within the boat, and then to swing downwardly to retain the material within the boat while being conveyed from theloading point to the place of delivery, the carriage being reciprocable along the boat to move the plate forwardly to discharge the material. Blade 16 is preferably a fiat metal plate extending across the boat. of a width completely filling the boat except for easy clearance, the blade being preferably as high or a little higher than the side walls posed, parallelly-spaced apart guideways are provided, fixed to and supported by the horizontal reaches of the overhead frame members 10, 1 1 and 12. These guides comprise, respectively, top strips 17 and 18, parallelly arranged and spaced apart, and like strips 19 and 20, arranged just beneath and in alinement with these strips 17 and 18 and with narrow spacing strips 21 and 22 arranged between and along the outside edges of the two sets of guide strips, as best shown in Fig. i". This structure is fastened to the overhead frames 10, 11 and 12 in suitable manner, as by rivets 23.

A cross brace and carriage stop is provided at both the front and rear ends of the guide, comprising an angled bar 24, lying across the top of the ends of strips 17 and 18 and riveted thereto. The other flange of the respective bars 24 extend downwardly past the ends of guides 17 and 18, thus acting to tie the structure together and an aperture 25 is formed in this downwardly depending flange of each bar 2 1, which serves as a support and guide for the head cable and tail cable, respectively. At either end of the guidewayalso, a short bar 26 is located between the ends of the guide bars 17 and 18 above and 19 and 20 below, and is riveted to these bars. This serves as a tie for the ends of the guideway and as a stop for the blade carriage 33 at either end of its travel. Holes 45 are formed in the guides through which any pieces of material pass and thus prevent clogging of the guides.

In the guideway thus formed is reciprocably mounted a carrier 33 for the pivotally mounted material controlling and discharging blade 16. This carriage comprises a flat body portion 33, having a central aperture 34, a flat front reach 31, a flat rear reach 32, and flat side reaches 35 and 36. This carriage slides in the guideways just described longitudinally of the boat. Two arms 37 and 38 extend downwardly from, and are preferably integral with, the flat frame part of carrier 33. These arms extend downwardly through the central slot or opening of the guideway, and are preferably spaced apart so as to just have free clearance within the inner edges of the two guides at either side. These members thus serve to aline and guide the carriage and also to pivotally support the material controlling and discharging blade 16. For the latter purpose these arms are provided, respectively, with a pair of alined apertures 39 and 10.

In the embodied form, the pusher blades 16 is eccentrically, pivotally mounted on a carrier 41, which carrier is pivotally supported from the arms 37 and 38 of the carriage 33.

As embodied, the carrier 41 comprises two side-by-side and spaced-apart plates 42 and 43, with an integral connecting piece 44 thereto its carrier 41 in any suitable manner, and

as embodied it rests on the part 44 of the carrier and is fastened thereto by rivets or bolts 46 passing through the holes 45. shown in the carrier. The side plates 42 and 43 of the carrier have apertures 48 formed therein, a pin 49 passing through these holes and through the holes 39 and 40 of the arms 37 and 38 of the carrier, to pivotally support the material controlling and discharging blade on the longitudinally reciprocable' carrier.

Means are preferably provided by theinvention whereby the pull of the cables will operate to actuate and control the blade 16 during the loading and unloading operation, as well as to propel the boat to and fro between the points of supply and discharge of the conveyed materials. As embodied, the side plates 42 and 43 of the carrier 41 have projections 53 and 54, provided with apertures 55 and 56. A cable attaching block 57 has a corresponding central aperture 58, a pin 59 passing through the apertures 55, 56 and 58 to fasten the block 57 to the blade carrier and carriage, while permitting a free pivotal movement of ,the carrier about its pivot pin 49 and of the carrier block about its pivot pin 59. The block 57 is providedwith an aperture 60, or other suitable means, at its forward end, for the attachment of the head cable 62, and with a similar aperture 61 at its rear end for the attachment of the tail cable 63. Thus, it'will be seen, that by reason of the eccentric relation of pivot pin 59 (for the cable attachment) to the pivot pin 49 (for the blade mounting), the pull on the head cable 62 will tend to swing the blade 16 downwardly to the position of Fig. 5, and to hold it firmly in that position so long as there is any strain on thehead cable, while a pull on the tail cable, for the same reason, will bring the pusher blade to the position of Fig. 4.

Means are provided for effecting, controlling and timing the travel and movement of the material controlling and discharging blade 16 in the loading and unloading operations. As embodied, said means comprise a detent automatically engaging and holding the carriage 33 at the rear end of the boat during the inward or idle trip of the boat, during and after it has been loaded with fresh material, and until the dumping position is reached, and then releasing the mechanism and permitting the blade 16 to move forwardly and push the material out of the boat.

As embodied, a detent arm has a notched nose 76, adapted to engage the forward edge of the front cross reach 31 of the carriage 33. Lever 75 is fixed to a shaft 77, which shaft is journaled in bearings 78 and 79, fixed to the guide members 17 and 1 8, and is journaled also in an opening in a plate 80, fixed to, and extending upwardly from, the side 2 of the boat. Fixed also to shaft 77 is a short posit'ioning or stop arm 81, having a transverselydisposed end 82, which end engages with the top of the guide 17 as the arm 75 swings downwardly; the lever 81 thus stopping the arm 75 in exact position to intercept and hold the front reach 31 of the carriage 33.

The embodied means for rocking detent arm 75, and thereby releasing the blade 16 and its carriage 33 and the cooperating mechanism when the dumping location is reached, comprises a tripping arm 88, fixed to shaft 7, and extending downwardly therefrom, and having a rounded bottom end 89, adapted to engage with a suitable trip, properly positioned, at the dumping place. This lever is also preferably provided with a weight 90, which tends to rock shaft 77 so as to bring lever 81 into contact with the to of guide 17, and thus maintain detent arm (5 in position to engage and hold the carriage 33.

The embodied form of delivery or dumping means is designed as herein shown to dump or discharge the loaded boat lnto an ordlnary mine car, 1n an entry which has been shot down at the top. It will be understood,

however, that the invention is applicable to other forms of discharging and dumping means, including dumping. into cars in an entry which is shot out at the bottom, and dumping into automatic conveyors at different elevations, and otherwise.

As embodied, an upwardly and forwardly inclined rail or ramp 110, with its inner end resting on the mine floor, is adapted to receive the forwardly traveling loaded boat, the boat then riding upwardly and forwardly on the rails 111 and 112, to elevate the boat above a car, or other receptacle, in the entry, preparatory to dumping the load thereinto. The platform is provided with side rails 111 and 112, which are preferably outwardly flared at their bottom and inner ends 115 and 116 to insure the entry of the boat 1 onto the platform 110. Near their outer flared ends 115 and 116 the rails are preferably fastened to two screw osts 117 and 118 which are screwed tight between the floor androof of the mine. Preferably the boat, when it reaches the position over the mine car 113, and at the forward end of the ramp-like plate 110, is stopped and thereby pivotally moved into a horizontal or forwardly and downwardly inclined position, just after the beginning of the dumping or discharging movement of the blade 16. For this purpose,.as embodied, a pair of pins or trunnions 119, 120 are fixed to, and project outwardly from the sides 2 and 3 of the boat. These pins ensition to a horizontal, or to a forwardly and.

ge e with stops 121 fixed in proper position at the forward end of the platform 11 0.

These stops serve to arrest the forward movement of the boat, and to permit it to pivot from a forwardly and upwardly inclined p0- downwardly inclined position. The devices for releasing the carriage 33 act concurrently therewith, or immediately preceding, to permit the blade 16 to travel forwardly under the pull of the head cable62. The embodied form of said means comprises a rail or trip.- ping bar 122 for the arm 88, which also constitutes, with a similar rail on the opposite side, guide rails for the boat.

The embodied form of the cable guiding meanscomprises a plurality of sheaves for guidingthe head cable 62 and the tail cable 63 along the path of the conveyor boat, say between the room face and the entry, and to the winding drums and their driving means to be later described. The head cable 63 at the outer end of its path (Figs. 1 and 3) runs about sheaves 130 and 131, journaled on a frame 132, extending forwardly from the ramp 110 and over the mine car 113 in the entry. It will be understood that these arrangements and structures will be varied when the invention is applied elsewhere than in a mine room. The head cable 62 then passes to drum 176 of the cable winding mechanism later to be described.

The tail cable 63 comes along the room face alongside the path of travel of the boat conveyor and passes about a sheave 123 and about a sheave 124 and is wound on and paid off from drum 177- of the cable winding mechanism, which is later described.

The ramp 110 or rails 111 and 112 have preferably also elevated side guide rails 133 and 134 which act as guides for the sides of the boat, and also preferably a yoke 135 which coacts with one of the frame yokes of the boat to form a stop for arresting the tilting motion of the boat when in the dumping or discharging position.

The forward part of the frame, carrying the sheaves for the head cable 62, and also the side frames 133 and 134, is preferably bolted to the rails 111 and 112 and may be slid back as shown in the broken line position of Fig. 1, leaving the entry clear when the car loading operation is not in operation in the room or other working, thus leaving the entry clear. The mechanism could also discharge into a: belt conveyor or other suitable conveying means. v

At the inner end of the travel of the boat, which gradually advances with the face of the room in the case of a mine, or with the advance of the work elsewhere in other applications, as preferably embodied (Fig. 2), a jack post 125 is fixed in inclined position in a plate 126, the plate 126 having also preferably a perpendicularly disposed banking plate or stop plate 127, which acts as a stop for the material as the boat or carrier 18 p ulleg into the pile of material, as shown in upported on jack'post 125 b an adjust: able bracket 128 is a horizonta ly disposed sheave 129, about which the tail cable 63 runs. An arm 136 is fixed to stop plate 127 and to bracket 128. This mechanism is-advanced from time to time with the work. The loose material is deposited in the path of the boat or carrier in front of the stop plate or farther on in the path of the boat b any suitable means, such as an automotive sh such as is shown in my copending application scant. 117,673, filed June 2a, 1926.

The winding and unwindingmechanism for the head cable 62 and tail cable 63 maybe of any" desired or convenient form, so far as regards many features of the invention. As embodied, a base plate 170 is provided with journal posts orpedestals 171, 172, 175 and 174, fixed to and extending upwardly therefrom. A shaft 173 is journaled in hearings in blocks 17 2 and 175, its inner end extending into a hollow brake drum gear mechanism 200, and connected to the mechanism therewithin, as later to be described. Fixed to shaft 17 3 to rotate therewith is a drum 176 upon which is wound and unwound either the head cable or tail cable, to propel the boat in one direction. A similar mechanism is provided at the other side for the brake drum gear mechanism 200 and winding drum 17 7 for the other boat cable, and need not be described or shown in detail.

A motor 184 is provided, and interposed between it and the cable winding drums is any known or suitable speed reducing and power transmitting mechanism. As embodied, there is fixed to the motor shaft 185, by a coupling 186, a short shaft 187 journaled in a bearing 188 in a housing 189, which is mounted on base plate 170. Fixed to the inner end of shaft 187 is a bevel pinion 190, which meshes with a bevel gear 191. Bevel gear 191 is fixed on a shaft 192, having bearings 193 and 194 formed as hubs in the side plates of housing 189, this shaft at either end extending into the interior of the brake drum gear mechanisms 200 and 200, and being connected to the mechanism therewithin, as hereinafter described.

Loosely mounted on both shaft 192 and shaft 173 is a hollow brake drum gear mechovel or loader Inn mg drum shaft 173. The circular periphery 215 of the hollow brake drum 200 is encircled by a brake band 216, one end of the brake band 216 being pivotally attachedat 217 ,and the opposite end thereof being'pivotally attached at 218.

Suitable means are rovided for tightening and loosening the bra e band, and both manual and automatically operating means are shown for this purpose, which may be used optionally, or either may be omitted. The manual means comprises a lever 221, fixed to the shaft 217, to which shaft is also fixed an arm 222, carrying a pin or stud 2 18, constituting the attachment for the opposite end of the brake band 216. As the lever is rocked, the band will lock and release-the drum 200 in a well-known manner.

The automatic means comprises a strap-like link 226, pivotally connected to arm 222 or to rod 218, said link. at its opposite end being connected to the core 227 of a solenoid 228. As the solenoid is energized and deenergized, it will act to lockand release the brake band 216 about the drum 200. A spring 229 is preferably provided, acting between the arm 222 and the base plate 170, to impel the brake band 216 to the loose or non-braking position.

The mechanism on the other side, for the winding drum 176, is shown in top plan only in Fig. 11. It may be the same in structure or operation as that already described, and further description will not be necessary.

The manner of operation of the mechanism of the cable winding and controlling means will doubtless be clearly understood and may be briefly stated as follows The motor 184, through gears 190 and 191, will drive the shaft 192 continuously. Takmg for instance, the right-hand brake mechanism and drum of Fig. 11, when the brake band 216 is loose, the brake drum will rotate with shaft 192, gears 202 and 203 remaining locked with pinion 201, and pinions 210 and 211 will rotate idly on gear 212, which will remain stationary and therewith shaft 173 and drum 177. When, however, brake band 216 is tightened, and drum 200 is held, shaft 192, driven by the motor, will rotate pinion 201, and pinion 201 will rotate gears 202 and 203 which will rotate shafts 204 and 205, and therewith gears 210 "and 211. These gears will rotate pinion 212 and therewith shaft 173 and drum 176. When the brake mechanism on the other side is operated, drum 177 will be actuated and controlled in the same manner as already described for drum 176.

In Figs. 13 to 16 is shown a modified form of the boat, and especially of the material controlling and discharging blade mechanism, which is mechanically somewhat simpler although probably not so desirable. In this form, the blade 16 has the head and tail cables directly attached thereto, and it is ivotally mounted at its bottom. As embo ied,

two undercut, longitudinally disposed, parallel guiding strips 230, 231 are located centrally and longitudinally of, and are fastened to, the, bottom 1 of the boat. A head stop 229 is fixed at the front end of the guideway and a tail-stop 229 is fixed at the rear end there-- of. Fitting slidably underneath these guides are the extended flanges 232 and 233 of a carriage 234. This carriage has integral, upwardly-extending standards or arms 235 and 236, which are centrally apertured to receive a journal pin 237. 1

A blade carrier 240 has a, central, flat body portion to which the material controlling and circles the pin 237 within the flanges 243 and o 244. The flanges 243 and 244 of the carrier 240 are apertured at their top ends, above the upper edge of the plate 16, a pin 254 being mounted therein.

Pivotally mounted on the pin 254, between the flanges of the carrier, is an anchor block 255, to the ends of which vthe head cable 62 and tail cable 63 are attached. Suitable means are provided for maintainingthe controlling blade 16 in load-retaining and forwardly boat-propelling position during the forward travel from the loading place to the discharge place. As embodied, a pair of detent levers 260 are pivotally mounted at 261 on brackets or lugs 262, formed respectively on the exterior of the side walls 2 and 3 of the boat. The inner ends of the detent levers extend through openings in the side walls and engage on the inner and forward face of the plate 16". Springs 263 impel the detent levers into the position described.

In Fig. 16 is shown diagrammatically the arrangement of the tail cable over the path of the boat or carrier instead of at one side as in the preferred form. In Fig. 17 the use of a chain is shown for the part of the head cable running through the guide on the boat or carrler.

In Fig. 19 an automatic electrical control is diagrammatically shown for the cable winding drums. Stops 270 and 271, cooperate with a switch operating lever 272, which controls the circuits which operate the solenoids 228, which actuate the brake mechanism controlling the winding drums.

In Figs. 4 and 20 the application of the device to long wall work in a mine is shown, or these views may be regarded as showing excavation work or other like application of the invention.

The manner of operation of the previously described mechanism, and referring primarily to the preferred form is as follows The operator either through the brake levers 221 or the circuits of the solenoids 228, controls the brake drums 200 and 200 to wind alternatively the tail cable 63 to pull the empty boat inward to .the place of loading or to wind the head cable 62 to pull the loaded boat outwardly to the place of dumping or discharge.

As the empty boat travels inwardly to the place of loading, due to the pull of the tail cable 63, blade 16 will be in the position of Fig. 4, that is, in an elevated and approximately horizontal and forwardly-pointed position, the boat moving from left to right in Fig. 4.-. Detent lever 75at this time is in front of blade carriage 33 and holds it firmly in the position of Fig. 4. When the pile of material at the inner end of the travel of the boat is encountered, due to the right hand end of the boat being open, the boat will pass into the pile of thematerial and the material will pass into the boat and practically fill it. When so filled, or at a short distance beyond that point, the boat is stopped by the operator controlling the brake levers 221 or the solenoids 228.

The tail cable 63 is thereby released, and the head cable 62 is wound and begins to pull the boat. By reason of the detent arm 75 firmly holdingcarriage 33 at the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the head cable 62 pulls the boat forwardly. However, due to the eccentric mounting of the blade 16, the entire 1111 of the head cable tends to rock the puslier blade downwardly from the position of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 5.

The blade moves from one of these posi tions to the other as the boat starts forwardly away from the pile of material. Due to these movements of the boat and of the blade, and the fact that the side walls of the boat are downwardly and forwardly inclined, the

- blade will rock to the position of Fig. 5 with its bottom edge resting firmly upon the bottom 1 of the boat, and will thus become a retaining wall or gate behind the load of material in the boat. The entire pull of the head cable 62 now propels the boat forwardly with its load of material, the blade 16, as stated, serving as a back wall to prevent the material flowing out backwardly.

When the forward end of the travel is reached, the boat rides upwardly upon the ramp 110, until the pintles 119 and 120 strike their detents 117, right at the front end of the plate 110. The pull of the head cable 62 then rocks the boat from the upwardly and forwardly inclined position to a horizontal position or a forwardly and downwardly inclined position. At this instant the member 122 trips arm 88, rocks shaft 77, and arm swings upwardly, releases carriage 33, and the pull of the head cable sweeps blade 16 forwardly within the boat, pushing the load of material out ahead of the blade into the mine car 113 or other place of disposal. The carriage 33 is brought to rest against the front stop 26.

By the operation of the brake drums 200 in the manner already described, the tail cable 63 is now wound, and carriage 33 is drawn backwardly in the guideways 17 and 18, and therewith the blade 16, to the righthand end and in the position shown in Fig. i, and is brought to rest by the tail stop 26. The boat starts backwardly, trip arm 88 rides off from rail 122, and thereupon detent arm 75 rocks downwardly and engages the front reach 31 of the carriage 33, and holds the mechanism in this position. The boat in this condition is drawn again in the pile of material at the loading end of its trip, and is loaded in the manner already described and the operation proceeds as before.

In the form shown in Figs. 13 to 15, and assuming that the tail cable 63 is winding, the plate 16, pivoting about the pin 237, is pulled downwardly to the horizontal position shown in broken lines in Fig. 13, and the boat proceeds on its inward trip to the place of loading. When the pile of material is encountered, the plate 16 passes beneath the material and the boat passes into the pile and is filled. When the drums 200 are reversed, the head cable 62 begins to pull, and plate 16 is thereby rocked upwardly from the broken-line position to the full-line position of Fig. 13, when it encounters the detent levers 260 at either side, and the head cable then draws the loaded boat forwardly to the discharge position, the plate 16 acting as a gate or wall to'hold the material within the boat. When the discharge position is reached, the pintles 119 and 120 act as before. At the same time the detent levers 260 are tripped, and the plate 16 is released and is pulled forwardly by the head cable,

the carriage 234 sliding forwardly in the guides 230 and 231, and the load of material is discharged from the boat, the carriage being stopped by encountering the head stop 225 and the anchor block 255 encountering the stop 10.

In both forms the rear ends of the side walls 2 and 3 of the boat are inclined downwardly and inwardly with respect to the boat, which facilitates the loading and the cooperation of the material controlling blade with thematerial in the boat. The term plate used in the claims is intended to cover a gate-like member performing the function of member 16, and is not to be limited to a flat. imperforate element.

. and described, but departures ma be made panyin therefrom within the scope of t e accomclaims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sac rificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is 1%- s 1. A material conveyor including in combination, a boat having a bottom and sides and open ends, a plate pivotally and slidably mounted on the b'oat,-and means whereby the plate is positioned to leave the interior of the boat unobstructed to receive a load by moving endwise into a mass of material and is moved to close an end of the boat after it is loaded, the direction of'movement of theboat controlling the positioning of the plate.

2. A material conveyor including in combination, a boat having a bottom and sldes and open ends, a plate mounted on the boat,

to have pivotal movement, and to have movement lengthwise of the boat, means for traveling the boat in reverse directions, and means whereby the plate is positioned to leave the interior of the boat unobstructed to receive a load by moving endwise into a mass of material and moved to close an end of the boat after it is loaded, the direction of movement of the boat controlling the positioning of the plate.

3. A material conveyorincluding in combination, a boat having a bottom and sides and open ends, a plate pivotally and slidably mounted on the boat, means for traveling the boat in reverse directions, and means whereby the plate is positioned to leave the interior of the boat unobstructed to'receive a load by moving endwise into a mass of material and moved to close an end of the boat after it is loaded and is moved in the opposite direction.

4. A material conveyor including in combination, a boat having a bottom and sides and open ends, a plate pivotally and slidably mounted on the boat, means including a cable for traveling the boat, and means whereby the plate is positioned to leave the interior of the'boat unobstructed to receive a load by moving endwise into a mass of material and moved to close an end of the boat after it is loaded.

5. A material conveyor including in combination, a boat having a bottom and sides and open ends, a plate movably mounted on the boat, means including a cable for traveling the boat, and means actuated by the cable whereby the plate is positioned to leave the interior of the boat unobstructed to receive a load by moving endwise into a mass of material and moved to close an end of the boat after it is loaded, the plate being also movable lengthwise of the boat for dumping the material therefrom.

6. A material conveyor including in combination, a boat having a bottom and sides and open ends, a plate pivotally and slidably mounted on theboat, means including a cable for traveling the boatin reversedirections,

and means whereby the plate is positioned to leave the interior of the boat unobstructed to receive a load by moving endwise into a 70. mass of material and moved to close an end of the boat after it is loaded.

7. A material conveyor including in combination,a boat having a bottom and sides and open ends, a plate'movabl mounted on the boat, means including a ca le for traveling the boat in reverse directions, and means; whereby the plate is positioned. to leave the interior of the boat unobstructed to receive p a load by moving endwise into amass of Ina- Q terial and moved to close an end of the boat after it is loaded and is moved in the oppo- 1 site direction, the plate being also movable lengthwise of the boat for dumping the material therefrm. 1

8. A material conveyor including in combination, a boat having a bottomand sides and open ends, a plate movably mounted on the boat, .and means wherebythe plate is positioned to leave theinterior of theboat unobstructed to receive a load by moving endwise into a mass ofmaterial and pivotally moved to close an end of the boat after it is loaded, the plate being movable lengthwise of the boat, upon reaching a dumping point, for emptying it.

9. A material conveyor, including in combination, a boat having a bottom and sides and open ends, a plate movably mounted on the boat, and means whereby the plate is positioned to leave the interior of the boat unobstructed to receive a load at one open end by moving endwise into a mass of material and movedto close an end of the boat after it is loaded and moved along the boat to discharge the material from the other open end thereof.

10. A material conveyor including in combination a boat having a bottom and sides and open ends and adapted to slide on the ground, a plate movably mounted on the boat, means for traveling the boat in reverse directions, and means whereby the plate is positioned to leave the interior of the boat unobstructed to receive a load in one open end by moving endwise into a mass of material and moved to close an end of the boat after it is loaded and moved along the boat to discharge the mate rial from the other open end thereof.

11. A material conveyor including in combination a boat having a bottom and sides and open ends, a plate movably mounted on the boat, means including a cable for traveling the boat, and means whereby the plate is positioned to leave the interior of the boat unobstructed to receive a load by moving endwise into a mass of material and moved to close an end of the boat after it is loaded and moved along the boat to discharge the material therefrom.

. 12. A material conveyor including in combination a boat havinga bottom and sides and open ends, a plate movably mounted on the boat, means including a cable for traveling the boat, and means actuated by the cable whereby the plate is positioned to leave the interior of the boat unobstructed to receive a load by moving endwise into a mass of material and-moved to close an end of the boat after it is loaded and moved along the boat to discharge the material therefrom.

13. A'material conveyor including in combination, a boat having a bottom and sides and open ends and adapted to slide along the ground, a plate movably mounted on the boat, and means whereby the plate is positioned to leave the interior of the boat unobstructed to receive a load in one open end by moving endwise into a mass of material and pivotally moved to close an endv of the boat after it is loaded and moved along the boat to discharge the material therefrom from the other open end thereof.

14. A material conveyor including in combination, a fiat bottomed boat slidable on the ground having a bottom and sides and open ends, a plate movably mounted on the boat, means for traveling the boat in reverse directions, and means whereby the plate is positioned to leave the interior of the boat unobstructed to receive a load by moving endwise into a mass of material and pivotally moved to close an end of the boat after it is loaded and is moved in the opposite direction and moved along the boat upon reaching the dumping point, to discharge the material therefrom.

15, A material conveyor including in combination, a boat having a bottom and sides and open ends, a plate movably mounted on the boat, means including a cable for traveling the boat, and means actuated by the cable whereby the plate is positioned to leave the interior of the boat unobstructed to receive a load by moving endwise into a mass of material and pivotally moved to close an end of the boat after it is loaded and moved along the boat to discharge the material therefrom.

16. A material conveyor including in combination, a boat having a bottom and sides and open ends, a plate movably mounted on the boat, meansincluding a cable for traveling the boat in reverse directions,.and means whereby the plate is positioned to leave the interior of the boat unobstructed to receive a load by moving endwise into a mass of material and pivotally moved to close an end of the boat after it is loaded and is moved in the opposite direction and moved along the boat to discharge the material therefrom.

17. A material conveyor including in combination, a flat bottomed boat open atboth ends and slidable on the ground, a plate within the boat, means for traveling the boat between a loading place and a discharging lace, and means for movin the plate along the interior of the boat to dlscharge the load of material therefrom, the material being loaded into one open end of the boat and dis-' charged from the other open end thereof.

18. A material conveyor including in combination, a boat, a plate pivoted within the boat, means for traveling the boat between a loading place and a discharging place, and means called into operation by the boat reaching the place of discharge for moving the plate along the interior of the boat to discharge the load of material therefrom.

19. A self-loading and self-dumping material handling device, comprisng a troughlike boat member having a gate pivoted near one end thereof, the gate serving to hold the material in the boat as it travels, and means, actuated when the boat reaches the dumping point, for moving the gate lengthwise of the boat for pushing the material out of the boat.

20. A material conveyor including in combination a trough-like boat open at both ends and adapted to slide along the ground, a gate member pivoted at one end of the boat for holding material in the boat as it travels, cable means for pulling the boat back and forth, means connecting the cable and the gate member whereby the gate is opened when the pull is in one direction and is closed when the pull is in the other direction, and whereby when the boat reaches the dumping point, the gate is moved lengthwise of the boat for pushing the material out of it.

21. A material conveyor including in combination a boat .member having a pivoted gate, which, when the boat is moved in one direction, opens, and when the boat is moved in the other direction, closes, means for moving the boat, including means, actuated when the boat reaches the dumping point, for moving the gate lengthwise of the boat, for pushing the material out of it.

22. A material conveyor including in combination a boat member having a pivoted gate, which, when the boat is moved in one direction, opens, and when the boat is moved in the other direction, closes, the gate also being movable bodily lengthwise of the boat for pushing material out of the boat, latch means for holding the gate against such lengthwise movement, means for moving the boat, and means for releasing the latch means when the boat reaches the dumping point.

'23. A material conveyor including in combination a boat having a bottom and sides and open ends, a frame mounted to slide longitudinally of the boat, a gate pivotally mounted on the slidable frame, and means for moving the boat, including means, coming into operation at a dumping point, for moving the slidable frame and gate longitudinally of the boat, for emptying it.

24. A material conveyor including in combination a boat having a bottom and sides and open ends, a frame mounted to slide longitudinally of the boat, a gate pivotally mounted on the slidable frame, cab e means for moving the boat, and means, cooperat ing with the cable means, whereby the cable acts, when the boat reaches a dumping point, to pull the frame and gate lengthwise of the boat, for emptying it.

25. A material conveyor including in combination a boat having a bottom and sides and open ends, means for traveling the boat into a mass of material to load it through one open end and means for moving the material along the bottom of the boat to discharge it from the other open end.

26. A material conveyor including in combination a boat having a bottom and sides and open ends, means for traveling the boat into a mass of material to load it through one open end and for travelling the boat in a reverse direction to a point of dischar e and means for moving the material along the bot tom of the boat to discharge it from the other open end.

27 A material conveyor including in combination a boat havin a bottom and sides and open ends, means $01 traveling the boat into a mass of material to load it through one open end and means actuated by the travelling means for moving the material along the bottom of the boat to discharge it from the other open end.

28. A material conveyor including in combination a boat havin a bottom and sides and open ends, means For travelling the boat into a mass of material to load it through one open end and for travelling the boat in a reverse direction to a point of discharge and means actuated by the travelling means for moving the material along the bottom of the boat to discharge it from the other open end.

29. A material conveyor including in combination a boat havin a bottom and sides and open ends, means or travelling the boat into a mass of material to load it through one open end and for travelling the boat in a reverse direction to a point of discharge, and a member actuated by the travelling means for retaining the material in the boat while the boat is travelling to the dischar e point and for ejecting the material from t e'other open end of the boat at the discharge point.

30. A material conveyor including in com bination a boat havin a bottom and sides and open ends, means or travelling the boat into a mass of material to load it through one open end and means for ejecting the material from the other open end of the boat.

31. A material conveyor including in combination a boat havin a bottom and sides and open ends, means or travelling the boat into a mass of material to load it throu h one open end and means actuated by t e travelling means for e'ecting the material from the other open en of the boat.

32. A material conveyor including in combination a boat having a bottom and sides and open ends, means for travelling the boat into a mass of material to load it through one open end and for travelling the boat in a reverse direction to a point of discharge, and a member actuated bv the travelling means to leave the forward end of the boat unobstructed to receive a load, to retain the material in the boat while the boat is travelling in a reverse direction to the discharge point and to eject the material from the other open end of the boat at the discharge point.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

KENNETH DAVIS. 

